That was a bad day!
I don't like needles. You might have heard this from me before. I was very clear with my oncologist when I was diagnosed that it was not an option for me to self inject. Ever. Last week I was told that my RA is not responding to oral treatment so I need to switch to injections. I was a bit stressed.I had no idea how stressed I was. Tuesday night I took an ativan so that I would be able to sleep and reduce some stress. Yesterday morning we had the teaching lesson with the nurse to learn how to self inject.I woke up with hives, a knot in my stomach, and extreme stress. Hives? That was a bit extreme. I have only had hives fro...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - April 25, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: needles stress fear Source Type: blogs

Cancer Tissue Acquisition and Genomic Testing in Integrated Diagnostic Centers
In a recent article, Dr. Eric Topol discussed what he describes as the "cancer clinic of the future." However, much of his discussion was directed at tumor tissue specimen collection and genomic testing (see: Topol on the Cancer Clinic of the Future). Below is an excerpt from it: So what is the cancer clinic of the future going to look like, because it's just starting to get developed today?  For example, when we have an individual presenting for a new diagnosis of cancer, we have to move away from fine-needle aspiration and minimal tissue; we need real tissue to be able to process it properly. Not only...
Source: Lab Soft News - April 24, 2013 Category: Pathologists Authors: Bruce Friedman Tags: Clinical Lab Testing Healthcare Business Healthcare Information Technology Laboratory Industry Trends Medical Research Pathology Informatics Source Type: blogs

Playing Hooky
Yesterday I posted about my crappy week. It got even better. After working until 230, I rushed to a dr apt and then rushed home to a meeting that last until after 6, and then got THE call. 730am on Wednesday 4/24 we will get a lesson on delivering medication subcutaneously. What that means, they will expect me to stab myself with a needle. I will need an ativan for that.The news this morning is all about the shootouts overnight to track down the Marathon bombing suspects. One is dead, one is on the run, police officers are dead. These guys are armed and dangerous. The subway and bus system is shut down city wide. Some town...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - April 19, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: hookey needles stress Source Type: blogs

Searching for Smaug
“My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail is a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!“ Smaug, the most powerful, the most cunning, and some would even say the greatest, dragon of the Third Age, had a story steeped in mystery.  By the time an unexpected journey began, Smaug had not been seen for 150 years, but legend had it that he had laid waste to the Lonely Mountain in Erebor, and was feared as a ruthless killer. The obvious questions that ensue from this frightening tale are: Does Smaug really exist, or is he some terrifying myth? If ...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - April 3, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Michelle Johnston Tags: Education eLearning Emergency Medicine Featured Respiratory pneumothorax smaug tension tension pneumo thoracostomy Source Type: blogs

A needle free future
I am elated, no, overjoyed, on cloud nine, jumping up and down with joy (as much as I can jump up and down these days) at this news. Companies are now trying to figure out ways to deliver drugs WITHOUT needles.I hate needles. I see no need for news programs and commercials to show people getting shots. If I have to have a needle near my body, I tell the doctors and nurses that I hate needles and can't look at them. When I had injections under my kneecap (I get chills up and down my spine just writing that), they were very good at distracting me.I have a coworker who is so petrified of needles he gets freaked out by doctor ...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - March 31, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: needles injections fear medication Source Type: blogs

New Anxiety, Bipolar and Depression Drugs in the Pipeline?
What happens when the drug pipeline for common mental health concerns — such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder — starts to dry up? “Most psychiatric drugs in use today originated in serendipitous discoveries made many decades ago,” according to a recent article on Science News by Laura Sanders. And it’s true — we can trace back today’s most popular psychiatric drugs to discoveries made over 30 — and in some cases, 40! — years ago. Because of the heady cost of drug development — costing hundreds of millions of dollars to bring a new drug to market —...
Source: World of Psychology - February 28, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: John M. Grohol, PsyD Tags: Antidepressant Antipsychotic General Medications Research Treatment Additional Research Article On Science Bipolar Depression Common Mental Health Depression Anxiety Depression Drugs Drug Pipeline Drugs In Use Generic Drug Il Source Type: blogs

Dealing with health problems
With a nasty medical diagnosis, such as cancer, chronic illness or pain, one is left with a few questions which a medical professional cannot answer. You get to figure them out for yourself because you have instantly received an advanced degree in being human along with your diagnosis. There are five key questions to grapple with. I did not make this up I stole borrowed from the RA Guy and from here. (I like the RA Guy, he gives lots of good advice to me.)The questions are:1. Do we talk openly about our health problems or keep them private?I think this is a personal decision. If you are Robin Roberts and can get the best m...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - January 31, 2013 Category: Cancer Tags: coping ailments being a patient questions Source Type: blogs

Minimal Reporting Guidelines for the Treatment of Cancer Patients
Minimal Reporting Guidelines for the Treatment of Cancer Patients As laboratory physicians, our contribution to patient care is knowledge:  this is the starting point from which all informed therapeutic intervention proceeds.  How that knowledge is obtained and communicated is the art and science of our profession.  These minimal diagnostic guidelines are designed to be used as an aid, not a constraint, in that process.  The guidelines are presented in a specific format out of necessity, but any format that effectively communicates the necessary information in a given patho...
Source: Oncopathology - September 5, 2011 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: blogs

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Protocol for Synpotic reporting of Breast  excision specimen with diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the BreastProtocol applies to DCIS without invasive carcinoma or microinvasion.The complete pathology report should include following parameters.Specimen type.___ Partial breast___ Total breast (including nipple and skin)___ Other (specify): ___ Not specified Procedure ___ Excision without wire-guided localization___ Excision with wire-guided localization___ Total mastectomy (including nipple and skin)___ Other (specify): _______________________________ Not specified Lymph Nod...
Source: Oncopathology - August 25, 2011 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Protocol for Synpotic reporting of Breast excision specimen with diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the Breast Source Type: blogs

Healing powers of john of god
hHEALING POWERS OF JOHN OF GODThe following are excerpts from the Oprah show this month.  Using a powerful acupuncture point  CV 17    Joao a Brazilian healer, shows  the power of activated invisible forces,  (as found in medical acupuncture).A video screen in a one-story coral building, was playing a video where a man’s chest was being cut open with a rusty paring knife. His eyes were closed and he looked peaceful as blood ran down his white shirt. (acupuncture point: Conception vessel 17 was entered).A 62 year old Brazilian healer named John of God, in a small town of Abadiania  ...
Source: Dr. Needles Medical Blogs - November 28, 2010 Category: Physicians With Health Advice Tags: HEALING POWERS OF JOHN OF GOD Source Type: blogs

Breast Core needle biopsy procedure
Patients undergo breast core biopsy generally due to one of the 3 main reasons:1) Presence of a mass or mass-like lesion either clinically palpable or diagnosed on imaging.2) Presence of suspicious calcifications on screening mammography.3) Nipple discharge or skin/nipple changes.Advantages of breast core needle biospy over Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) are as follows:•Most cases can be definitely categorised•Provides architectural information•Microcalcifications can be directly visualisedThe biopsy techniques and imaging modalities used by radiologists vary and is generally dependent on the type of lesion, ...
Source: Oncopathology - September 29, 2010 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Breast Biopsy Procedure Source Type: blogs